Molding-press for oil-cakes



(No Model.) 3 SheetsShee t 1.

8 0. P. BUSHNELL.

MOLDING PRES-S FOR OIL-GAK-BS.

No. 385,094. Patented June 26,1888.

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(No Model.) 3 Shets-Sheet 2.

0. P. BUSHNELL. MOLDING PRESS FOB. OIL CAKES. No. 385,094. 4 Patented June 26, 1888.

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(No Model.) Sheets-Sheet 0. P; BUSHNELL,

MOLDING PRESS. FOR OIL CAKES. No. 385,094. Patented June 26, 1888.

WITNESSES F INK/ENTER! I J @M EH5. Phfloulhognpm Washington. D. C.

UNITED STAT S PATENT Orrrcn.

Moraine-[Passe FOR OIL-CAKES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letteis Patent No. 385,094, dated June 26, 1888. Application filed September 26, lEB'IShflerial No. 250,763. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Osoan P. BUSHNELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of \Vorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Molding-Presses for Making Oil Cakes, of whichthe following, together with the accompanying drawings, is a specification sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable persons skilled in the art to which this invention appertains to make and use the same.

The object of. my present invention is to provide a practical and efficient press or mechanism for forming cakes in the process of eX- tracting cottonseed oil and for similar purposes, whereby the cakes can be formed in a rapid and convenient manner.

Another object is to afford a simple and efficient mechanism for applying the pressure by means of oppositely directed universallyjointed arms, in combination with an operating-plate which swings or carries the adjacent ends of said arms in a circular are by oscillation of the actuating-shaft.

Another object is to provide means for operating the pressing mechanism and for throwing the parts out of operation automatically when the forming of the cake within the press has been effected.

Another object is to afford facilities in a cake-forming machine whereby the mechanism for condensing the cake will be automatically put into action by the advance movement of the cake-form or mold-carrier frame when introducing the cake uncondenscd into the press.

Another object is to provide yielding devices, arranged as hereinafter described, for

supporting the mold'carrier or cakeforming frame to permit the depression of said former by the press without strain on the mechanism.

These objects I attain by mechanism such as herein described, the particular subjectmatter claimed being hereinafter definitely specified.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of my improved cake-forming machine. Fig. 2 is a rear View of the same. Fi g. 3 is a vertical section at line 0000, Fig. 1,with the position of the pressaetuating leverand chain indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 4. is a horizontal sectional view showing the devices for work ing the knucklejoints of the press. Fig. 5 is asect-ional view showing the detail of the yield ing supports for the mold-carrier frame.

I My improved cake-forming mechanism comprises, in combination, means for gaging the delivery of thedesired quantity of seed-meal and depositingit in the proper shape for pro ducing the cake, a pressing mechanism. for condensing the same intoa compact mass,and means for actuating and controlling the press ing mechanism, the several devices for performing the various functions and attaining the desired results being constructed, combined, and organized for operation, as more particularly hereinafter explained. 3 Referring to parts, A and A denote, respectively, the upper and lower heads of the press connected by standards or bolts a in the usual manner. The lower ends of the bolts in the present instance extend below the bot tom head and are provided with shoes that serve as feet for the machine to stand upon.

13 indicates the pressingfollower, disposed to work upward between the standards a and carried by knuckle-joint arms 0, the knuckle joints 0 of which slide upon and form journal-bearings for the press-operating shaft D. Said arms are hinged to the follower B and lower head, A, as at c, and are preferably disposed in the manner illustrated, so that the knuckle-joints G approach each other when the press is opened and are forced apart for closing the press.

Centrally upon the shaft D and rigidly fixed thereto I employ a. socket plate or wheel, D,

having in its opposite sides joint-sockets for supporting the inner ends of a system of op positely directed arms or links, E, the outer endsof which are confined in sockets on the respective ends of the knuckle-joint blocks 0. The arms E are preferably made with spherical bearing-heads and the sockets are of corresponding form, thus forming universal-joint connections.

The arms E are arranged in pairs and extend diagonally to the right and left in such manner that partial rotation of the wheel D will cause the arms to act in the manner of knucklejoint levers for applying the pressure for forcing apart the knuckle-joints C of the arms 0, and thus closing the press. The reverse acinto and from the press by hand. A suitable tion of said wheel D and arms E again opens the press. In Fig. 4 I have shown the arms E by full lines in position as extended for applying the pressure, and by dotted lines indicated their position, as when the press is opened. Movement is imparted to the shaft D by means of a lever, D, fixed on one end of said shaft and operated by mechanism which will be hereinafter described.

The periphery of the wheel D is made in cam shape to follow the movement of the follower as the knuckle-joint armsO are straightened, and said wheel is confined between pairs of lugs d d, rigidly fixed on the lower head/ A, and on the follower B, which prevent lateral movement of the plate or wheel D,and shaft D, and thereby maintain uniform action of the opposite pairs of arms, 0, so that the follower will stand parallel with the head A; A bracket, 13, is attached to the front of the follower, upon which is supportedsth'e moldcarrier frame F. Said frame is inounted on guide rolls or trucks f, grooved/or otherwise, that run on guideways or tracks which extend laterally across the follower and along the top of the bracket 13 and on the short bracket 13 at theback of the follower, so that said mold-carrier frame -F can be easily run handle is provided at the front for conven; iently moving the carrier-frame. The fly or gaging table G is hinged to the head of the press, as at g, and can be let down upon the top of the forming-frame F, as indi cated, or swung up out of the way, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3. The mold;- carrier frame F is provided with a central opening to receive the mold orpan F, in which the cake is formed, and the table G is provided with an opening of corresponding shape having inwardly-inclined edges. A handle, G, is provided for conveniently raising and lowering-the table. H indicates the meal-box or hopper for containing and delivering the seed-meal or material of which the cakes are to be formed. Said box is-provided with wheels that run on guidetracks along the edges of the table G and upon the extension H, which in practice is beneath the heater, and is supported in stationary position adjacent to the end of the hinged table G, so that the box H can be run across from one to the other. The bottom of the box is open, so that when drawn across the space within the table G the material will drop into the pan F on the carrier -frame, the movement of the box leaving the surface of the material straight and level with the top [of the table G. A suitable handle is provided on the hopperbox to facilitate inovingit across the table. v

The arrangement of the cake-forming frame, open gaging-table, and movable meal box or hopper, and the method of deliveringthe meal for a cake are substantially the same as here'- an essential part of my pres M 1 en the press is closed together and pressure /1S applied for condensing the cake, so that the ,frame F will come solidly down upon the follower B, the yielding of the springs l and pivoted sections I permitting the necessary downward movement beneath the wheels f without strain. Then when the press is again open to slightly lift the frame and cake from the surface of the press-follower, so thatit can be readily withdrawn. v

Supported at the back of the machine by a suitable frame, A and at a sufficiently-elevated position, is a shaft, J, carrying a sprocket-wheel, J, and beneath said sprocketwheel, at a low position, is supported asecond sprocket-wheel, K. A drive-chain, K, is arranged about these sprocket-wheels, and the end ofthe lever D is connected to said chain by a suitable link, K", so that as the chain revolves about the sprockets the end of said lever will be raised and depressed, the link K accommodating the variation between the line of movement of the lever-arm and the line of movement of the chain K as the latter revolves about the guiding-sprockets. The shaft J is provided with a gear, J, which meshes with a pinion, J on the driving-shaft L, which latter shaft is provided with a tight and a loose pulley, L U, for the driving-belt. A shipperrod, M, having a suitable fork, m, is provided for carrying the driving-belt from-one of the pulleys to the other. Said shipper-rod is connected by a lever, m, with actuating mechanism, whereby the belt is automatically shifted and the action of the mechanism controlled as required.

The stopping and starting mechanism for controlling the action of the machine is made as follows: A shaft or ba r, N, is arranged across the back of the machine and supported for reciprocative movement in suitable bearings; Fixed thereon is an arm, M that connects by link m or otherwise with the shipper-rod lever m. Two coiled springs, S and S, are arranged on the bar N, one of which springs, S, abuts against the frame A and against a movable collar, a, while the other spring, S, abuts at one end against the hub of arm M, or an equivalent collar, fixed upon or keyed to the sliding loose on said bar N. This latter collar is connected by a "link, if, with the first collar, n, and also with a setting-lever, O, that is fulcrumed on the cross-bar A of the frame and actuated by a connection from the pressing tofore employed, and I do not therefore make mechanism or by a stud, p, on a slide-rod, P,

bar N, and its other end against a collar, a, a

sashes 7 adjacent to'thc arms C, which rod is provided with a second stud, P, that engages with one of the knuckle jomt blocks 0, or with a projection fixed thereon, so that when the press is closed as said knuckle-joint block approaches its outward limit of movement it engages and moves the bar P and lever O and effects the compression of the spring S. A collar-,n, is fixed on the rod N, anda swinging dog,R, is arranged to drop between said collar and frame for holding the rod against movement when the springs are compressed. Adjacent to the collar n and pivoted upon the frame is a drop-dog, T, and also a' liftinglever, V, adapted to be engaged by a projection, n, at-

tached to and extending backward from the Pivoted upon'said lift ing-lever V and engaging with the'dropdog mold-carrier frame.

T is a weighted-latch deviee,"t, whichoperates to throw the dog from engagement with the collar a when the lever V is lifted to a limited degree. Said'latch is provided with an arm or an npwardlyextending tailpiece, i that strikes against the frame A (or some other suitable stop device,) when the lifting lever is carried beyond the established limit, and effects the throwing off of the latch from the dog, so that the dog can drop down against the bar N in position for again catching the collar. Thus when the cake'former or moldcarrier F is moved into position beneath the press its arm 12, by engaging the lifting-lever V, throws off the dog T and allows the spring S to move the collar a and arm M in directionv for shifting the belt onto thetight pulley L, and immediately by the further movement of the lever V and action of the tail 1? effects the raising of the latch t from the dog T, so

that said dog will be free to catch the collarn whenever the latter is moved to the proper position. The liftinglever V and dog T are both pivoted to a stationary portion of the In place of the sliding bar P, with studs P" for moving lever 0, said lever may be connected directly with the k nucklc-joint by a rod or any suitable link.

The process of forming the cakes is briefi y this: The moldingpan F, which is of sheet metal, fits into the carrier-frame F, and upon this pan is laid a cloth of corresponding width and about twice the length, more or less. The seed -meal properly crushed and cooked is deposited upon said cloth as the box or hop per H :is moved acrossthe table. When the box is returned to place, the fly or table G is turned up on its hinges, (see dotted lines in Fig. 3,) and the ends of the cloth are closed over the top of the mass of meal on the molding-pan. The mold-carrier frame F, with its pan and contents, is then run back onto the follower B of the press, so that the upward movement of the follower will compress the cake against the head. \Vhen com pressed,the mold-carrier is drawn to the front to its usual position. The molding pan containing the cake and its wrapping-cloth are removed from the carrier and another pan and cloth are placed thereon for receiving the supply of seedmeal for a second cake.

Referring now to the operation of the mechanism when in position, as shown in fig. 2, the springS is understrain; then when the moldcarrier is run back and the collar n is released by the arm n, lifting-lever V, and throwing-off dog T, the spring S expands and throws the bar N and arm M forward, carrying the ship per-rod M, which shifts the belt onto the tight pulley L; also, at the same time carrying forwardthespring S, link a, and settinglever 0 without changing the strain on said spring S, and moving the bar N, so that the dog It will drop behind the collar it and confine the bar at that position against return action. This puts the press-drivingmechanism in operation. The revolution of the drive chain Ken the sprockets J K lifts the arm 1)", carrying the link K over the top of the sprocket J, thus partially rotating shaft D and forcing apart the knuckle-jointarmsG by theaction of the arm E and wheel D. As the k nuckle-joints O approach their outward limit of movement, a lug on one of said knuckle joints strikes the stud P, (see Fig. 4,) and the bar P is moved, carrying the stud 19 against the lever O and causing said lever to act for drawing back the collars a and n, compressing the springs S S, the bar M being nieanwhileheld by the dog It, so that the shipper cannot be moved. The collar it is moved away from the fixed collar or hub of arm M, thereby al1owing the dog T to drop behind said collar n to prevent the expansion of the spring S. When the press has completed itsaction and the lever-operating arm D descends, the pin or lug 'r on its side engages the arm R and throws off the dog R from the collar n. This allows spring S to expand and to force the bar N, with the arm M the shipper-lever m,and beltshipperfork m, over to the opposite direction, so as to carry the belt from the tight pulley L to the loose pulley L The mechanism is thus stopped, leaving the parts in position with spring S strained, ready to be again thrown into action, and the press opened or with the follower B depressed. The cake-form or moldcarrier frame can then be readily drawn to the front, and this action, by removing its arm 22 from the lifting-lever V, allows said lever to drop, so that'the latch device t, pivoted thereto, will again fall into position to engage with the dog T ready to lift said dog when the lever V is again elevated by a subsequent introduction of the mold-carrier and cake material into the press.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination, with the fiy-table, the press-head, and follower, the press-operating shafts and gear,driving-pulleys,and automatic shipper for stopping and starting the press, of the moldearrier having a lug that trips the starting-shipper look when said mold-carrier is introduced or inserted within the press, whereby the press is put into action automatically by the operation of inserting the moldcarrier 2. The combination of the press-follower provided with projecting brackets at front and rear, the pivoted yielding sections I, and springs 1, arranged within said brackets, and the mold-carrier frame having front and rear projections provided with supports or truckwheels F, that rest upon the yielding sections when said frame is in the press, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The mechanism for applying pressure, consisting ofoppositely-directed arms E, having spherical or universal beariugjoints at their ends, the outer ends of which connect with the parts against which pressure is eX- erted, and their inner ends working in combination with a rotative wheel or operator, whereby said inner ends are caused to move in a circular arc in a plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of the pressure or movement of their outer ends, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination,with the followerB and head A, of the shaft D, carrying the wheel or socket-plate D, the knucklerjoint blocks 0, provided with sockets, the arms E, disposed between said wheel and the knuekle joint blocks, and the arms 0 between said blocks and the pressing-head and follower, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination,with the pressing-heads and follower, the knuckle-joint O, pressingarms 0, arms E, wheel D, and shaft D, of the fly-table G, the mold-carrier frame F, supporting-tracksf, and means, substantially as described, for operating said shaft.

6. The combination of the knuckle-joint blocks 0, arms 0 O, pressingfollower B, and head A, provided with lugs d, the actuating shaft D, passing through said knueklejoint blocks, the wheel or socket plate D, fixed on said shaft and havinga canrshaped periphery confined between said lugs, and the arms E,

socketed or universally jointed at their respective ends between the said wheel and said knuckle-joint blocks, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination, with the cake-forming press-head and pressing-followeroperated by the knuckle-joint arms and shaft D, of the arm D chain K, link K sprocketwheels K and J, and operating-shaft J, with drivinggear for imparting motion to said shaft, for the purposes set forth.

8. The combination, with the press-head and pressing-follower, its operating-shaft D and arm D, of the chain K, link K sprocketwheels J and K, shaft J, gears J J shaft L, pulleys L L shipper M m, and spring'levers and trip dogs arranged for automatically operating said shipper,substantially as set forth.

9. In combination with the press-heads, pressingfollower, press operating knucklejoint arms, and mold-carrier frame, the bar N, shipper-actuating arm M", springs S S, 001- lars n, a, and of, dogs R and T, setting-lever 0, connection P, actuating said setting-lever from the knuckle-joint, the lifting-lever V, tripping-arm von said mold-earrier,and latch t, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

, 10. The dog R, having an arm, R, in combination with the press-operating arm D, provided with a lug or pin, r, and springactuated bar N,having the collar or stop device n,sub-' stantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. The combination of the partially-rotative wheel D and the knucklejoint blocks 0, each having bearingsoekets thereon, and the arms E, disposed in oppositely-directed pairs, with their respective ends sustained in said bearing-sockets, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. The pressing follower having depressed grooves or guideways across its upper surface and attached brackets or extensions having upon their tops guideways or tracks disposed in continuation of said grooves, and provided with yielding or depressible sections at front and rear of said follower,in combination with amold-carri'er frame provided with wheels or trucks that run on said guide-tracks and rest upon said yielding sections while the moldearrier is in position for condensing the cake, substantially as set forth.

\Vitness my hand this 20th day ofSeptember, A. D. 1887. OSCAR I. BUSHNELL.

W'itn esses:

CHAS. H. BURLEIGH,

ELLA P. Browns. 

